Page 30 of Wild Swimming at Croftwood Lake
‘I suppose not,’ Nora said with a sigh. ‘I’m not used to living somewhere where everyone knows, or is even interested in what everyone else is up to.’
‘Best that you realise now,’ Patsy said.
‘It’s not really like that,’ said Jess. ‘At least not all the time. We’re just pleased that Archie is going out with someone as lovely as you. He deserves some happiness. And Constance can be a good laugh. Just keep her away from the Pimms.’
‘She got tipsy at the festival last summer and insisted that she wanted to stay the night in one of the glamping tents. She got so cross with Archie for making her go home. He shoved her into the back of a taxi which she wasn’t happy about at all,’ said Jess. ‘Poor Archie didn’t hear the end of it for weeks and he only put his foot down because he knew she wouldn’t normally stay anywhere that didn’t have a flushing toilet.’
‘You know, he’s letting the festival use his land for free again this year,’ said Hilary.
‘Seb’s tried to persuade him to charge but he won’t hear of it,’ said Jess. ‘It’s so kind of him, but I’m not sure he can afford to be kind.’
‘Do you think this swimming lake is a good idea?’ Nora asked them.
‘I love it,’ said Lois. ‘I’ve wanted to try cold-water swimming for ages but I can’t be bothered to travel to the other side of Worcester to do it. I haven’t got time. If this was open, I’d be able to come before or after work. I’d come as often as I could. I’m on a high, even if I can’t quite feel my toes yet.’
‘I’d come,’ said Jess. ‘I’d forgotten how much I miss the feeling of swimming outside. The rush you get from being cold and then feeling invincible when you get out. It’s amazing. Count me in.’
‘You’ve all convinced me that I’ve missed out,’ said Hilary. ‘I’d like to think I’d be a regular.’
‘Me too,’ said Patsy. ‘I spend so much time indoors, and in five minutes this has totally invigorated me. I can walk here too, which is brilliant.’
‘Great!’ said Nora. ‘Honestly, I think there’s a market for it but I was worried that I’m biased. I didn’t want to set Archie off on something that’ll never work.’
‘Seb thinks it’s a great idea too, and he’s got an expert eye for what works,’ said Jess.
‘Same time tomorrow then?’ Nora teased, laughing at their faces when they thought she was serious. ‘Same time next week?’
There were a chorus of yeses which gave Nora a fuzzy feeling inside. She’d found her new tribe. And whether or not the lake ever opened to the public, she hoped this group of women would continue to enjoy it regardless.
‘I’m off to buy a dry robe,’ said Lois before she disappeared through the hedge.
‘See you next week!’ Patsy called, following her.
‘Should we douse the fire?’ Nora asked Jess.
‘Probably. Seb said he’d come back to collect the chairs, but I reckon we could leave them here. Why don’t we fold them and put them under the dock? We could put a couple of stones from the wall in front of them to stop them from rolling into the water.’
Jess went to collect the stones while Nora pushed the chairs underneath, then dipped her cup into the lake and threw a cupful of water on the fire.
‘It’s like a proper swimming lake now, with the fire pit,’ said Nora.
‘You don’t mind that you’ll end up sharing it?’
‘Not at all. Today has been brilliant.’
She couldn’t wait to tell Archie what a success it had been, and she couldn’t wait for the same time next week to do it all again.
13
ARCHIE HAD NO idea where he was going to take Nora so, as he did with most things, he enlisted the help of Seb.
‘If it was up to me, I’d choose the pub every time,’ he said. ‘It’s relaxing and the food’s good, so it really depends.’ He plonked himself down in the chair next to the fireplace in the estate office, and scratched Tatty’s head while Archie made the tea.
‘On what?’ Archie asked, feeling as if he ought to know the answer.
‘What’s the end game? Are you pumping her for info about the swimming lake idea, or is it the first date?’
Archie opened his mouth to answer, but Seb carried on.
